This watchdog blog, by journalist Norman Oder, offers analysis, commentary, and reportage about the $4.9B project to build the Barclays Center arena and 15-16 towers at a crucial site in Brooklyn. Dubbed Atlantic Yards by developer Forest City Ratner in 2003, it was rebranded Pacific Park Brooklyn in 2014 after the Chinese government-owned Greenland Group bought a 70% stake going forward. As of 2018, after the arena and four towers were built, Greenland owns 95% of future construction.

That 2011 rat problem at the arena site? There was a prescient warning, five years earlier, from Community Board 2

Remember the "rat tsunami" caused, many arena neighbors believe, by arena construction, as reported in June 2011?

It was predicted, in a way. See Brooklyn Community Board 2's 9/29/06 comments on the Atlantic Yards Draft Environmental Impact Statement and General Project Plan:

Construction Impacts
Community District 2 is experiencing a significant increase in the number of disease-bearing rats, which can be attributed to the large amount of construction currently underway. Community residents have reported that the rats are regularly seen scurrying in and around their homes. In light of the prospect of the massive demolition, excavation and construction associated with this project, it is anticipated that the underground habitats of Brooklyn’s rodent population will be disturbed. Containment plans to mitigate the inevitable disturbance and escape of large numbers of rodents into neighboring communities needs to be specifically defined and coordinated with appropriate governmental agencies in advance.

Forest City Ratner practiced a certain amount of containment on the arena site and the railyard site, but wound up having to improve its procedures and also to provide neighbors with rat-resistant garbage cans.

Presumably the construction of one tower, B2, next to the arena, will have far less of an impact.